Dietary & Allergies

1. Hau la han naan.

   I don't eat meat.

   Usage

   Vegetarian declaration

   Grammar Note

   Tetum negation: "la"

2. Hau vegan, la han buat ne'ebé mai husi animál.

   I'm vegan; I don't eat things from animals.

   Usage

   Vegan declaration

   Grammar Note

   "ne'ebé" is relative pronoun

3. Hau iha alerjia ba fore-rai ho nuu.

   I have a nut allergy.

   Usage

   Tetun has no umbrella word for tree nuts, so the two that actually go into Timorese food are named. Peanut sauce is everywhere, so always say fore-rai

   Grammar Note

   "ba" is dative and "ho" is "and/with". "aikamiis" is not a word for nuts: "ai-kamii" is a particular tree name, and it is uncertain whether it can serve as an allergen category.

4. Iha menu ne'ebé la iha glúten?

   Is there a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   Gluten-free inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "iha" expresses have/exist

5. Hau muslim, la han naan fahi.

   I'm Muslim and don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Halal observance

   Grammar Note

   "naan" + animal = "meat of" (naan fahi = pork, naan karau = beef). It is spelled "naan" with no glottal stop.

6. Hau la bele hemu susubeen.

   I cannot drink milk.

   Usage

   Lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "bele" = able; negative "la bele"

7. Hau iha alerjia ba ai-han husi tasi.

   I'm allergic to seafood.

   Usage

   Seafood allergy

   Grammar Note

   "husi tasi" = "from the sea"

8. Saida mak iha ai-han ida-ne'e?

   What's in this food?

   Usage

   Ingredient inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "mak" is focus marker

9. Ita bele halo nia la iha liis bombai?

   Could you make it without onion?

   Usage

   Request to omit ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "la iha" = "does not have / without" (written as two words). Onion is "liis bombai" / "liis boot"; bare "liis" also covers garlic. "sebola" is Portuguese

10. Hau iha alerjia ba tolun.

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    Egg allergy

    Grammar Note

    "tolun" = "egg"

11. Iha lista alerjéniku ka lae?

    Is there an allergen list?

    Usage

    Allergen menu request

    Grammar Note

    "ka lae" = "or not"

12. Hau nia alerjia bele oho hau.

    My allergy can kill me.

    Usage

    Severe allergy warning

    Grammar Note

    "nia" is the possessive marker; it is written as a separate word, e.g. "hau nia"

13. Iha mina ka manas iha laran?

    Is there oil or spicy ingredients?

    Usage

    Asks about oil/spice

    Grammar Note

    "ka" = "or"

14. Ai-han hau nia bele kahur ho ai-han seluk ka lae?

    Could my food get mixed with other foods?

    Usage

    Cross-contamination check

    Grammar Note

    "ho" = "with"

15. Obrigadu barak ba Ita nia atensaun.

    Thank you very much for your attention.

    Usage

    Formal thanks (male form)

    Grammar Note

    Females say "Obrigada"

16. Hau la bele han naan karau.

    I cannot eat beef.

    Usage

    Specific food restriction

    Grammar Note

    "karau" = "buffalo/cow"

17. Naan fahi

    Pork

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains pork

18. Naan karau

    Beef

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains beef. Beef is "naan karau"; "vaka" is Portuguese (vaca)

19. Naan manu

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains chicken

20. Ikan

    Fish

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains fish

21. Manu-tolun

    Egg

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains egg

22. Susubeen

    Milk / dairy

    Usage

    Point at it to check for dairy

23. Fore-rai

    Peanut

    Usage

    Point at it to check for peanut, a common allergen

24. Kamaraun

    Shrimp / prawn

    Usage

    Point at it to check for shellfish allergy

25. Trigu

    Wheat

    Usage

    Point at it when avoiding gluten

26. Alkól

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Use when you must avoid alcohol

27. Tahu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Check for or order soy products

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